Nwilo was on Monday reacting to the massive flooding in the state, especially around Lekki, Victoria Island, Ajah, Ikoyi and Lagos Island, following torrential rainfall on Saturday.
According to him, this is the first time the Lagos Lagoon water level is rising.
“I do not think the water level of the Lagoon has risen like this before in the state.
“Look around you, Lagos Lagoon and all waterfronts in the state are being sand-filled for the development of estates.
“This is being done without proper Environmental Impact Assessment on consequences of such development on the environment.
For More:Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
“The natural canal is being blocked all around the state and when this happens, the water stays with us and that is the flooding we are experiencing.
“We will work on the other causes of the flooding later and that is when we can proffer sustainable solutions to what is happening now.
“But for now, sandfilling of Lagos Lagoon and waterfronts should stop,’’ Nwilo, also a lecturer at the Department of Surveying and Informatics, University of Lagos said.
Also speaking, Prof. Sylvester Egwu, an environmentalist, also expressed concern about the happenings in Ajah, Lekki axis and its environs.
“These areas have become tourist sites for flooding. Ajah area is horrible. VGC, Ikate and Jakande are in a mess. Everywhere is water logged.
“We cannot even come out of our houses, that is those of us that water has not overtaken our entire houses.
“Besides being climate change situation, all drainage systems in the area are blocked, majority of them by illegal structures.
“The drainages are not flowing. All the refuse that are not evacuated and dumped anywhere and anyhow are now in the drainages.
“We are only praying to God not to allow the ocean to swallow us up and become foods to our aquatic friends out there,’’ he said.
Egwu called for the removal of all the illegal structures on drainage right-of-way and make the gutters flow by removing the refuse blocking the free flow of water.
For More:Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
The Chairman of Nigerian Environmental Society, Lagos Island Chapter, Mr Victor Imvebore, said that what was happening at Lekki, Ajah, Victoria Island did not come as a surprise to environmentalists.
“Environment lovers have raised alarm severally, warned government and private individuals, especially estate developers and contractors on the consequences of blocking and building on wetlands.
“Those areas are to serve as buffer zones for excess water from the Ocean, Lagoon, seas and rivers.
“Whenever nongovernmental organisations on environment, foundations and activists demand for EIAs on major projects, they become enemies of government.
“We have always known and warn that projects built indiscriminately in those areas prone to flooding are disasters waiting to happen.
“Wetlands are pooling areas for water. We build on flood plain areas and complain when our houses are flooded,’’ he said.
Imvebore said that Lagos state needed strategic environment plans on how to protect its wetlands and should not joke with EIA.
“This is just tip of the iceberg,’’ he said.
Are you an artiste? Do you want your music to go viral and reach a large number of audience? Promote your music and Submit your story on Ujuayalogusblog.com by clicking here. For Advert Inquiries Tel/+44(0)7590363984 Subscribe to Ujuayalogusblog.com News!
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2015-2017 @ Uju Ayalogu's Blog NIGERIAN NEWS
For More:Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment